snowblindmemes | Test Drive

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test drive

Test Drive


TEST DRIVE MEME
If you'd like to apply to Snowblind and would like to test the waters first or get a sample set up for your application, this meme is for you! We've even provided some prompts for you to use if you want (but feel free to make up your own). Here's how it works. ✭ Reply to this entry with a character you're considering apping into the game. You can include the name of your character and the fandom in your subject line. ✭ Comment around to others on the meme, whether you're in the game already or not. ✭ Now you have a sample ready for your application! ✭ So go reserve and apply when reservations and applications are open. ✭ Seriously, do it. Network Prompts ONE: IF YOU DON'T... Lockdown has just hit, and you're preparing to settle in for the night when, suddenly, there's a noise from your phone. A notification buzz that sounds almost like the naughty laughter of a child. It looks like you have a new app, the icon displaying a jack-o-lantern. Choosing to open it will reveal a screen with two buttons: trick and treat. Only, trying to click on "treat" only garners more of that laughter from before. Maybe that's the trick. And if you click on "trick"...well, nothing happens. Not to you, anyway, but someone else is bound to find a nasty note in their inbox with your username attached--or maybe even an audio clip of your voice, a brief video of what certainly looks to be you...but you're sure you didn't send this person anything. So what's going on? Nonetheless, whatever "trick" was received from you (or maybe you're the one on the receiving end) someone's got some explaining to do. TWO: THE UNLUCKIEST DAY You don't wake up feeling as if today is any day different from any of the others...but that all changes very quickly when something unfortunate happens. Maybe you pull your tablet out of your bag to find that the screen appears shattered like a mirror. Maybe the dark outline of a black cat pads along the bottom of your inbox. Maybe cement-like cracks appear along your keypad as you try to type, warning you not to step on them. Or maybe still, the shadow of the slope of a ladder looms ominously over your screen. Whatever it is, the end result is the same: suddenly, you're experiencing terrible bouts of back luck. It could come in many forms. Maybe you're tripping over your feet more than usual. Maybe you opened your bag after traveling to find a hole had ripped through the bottom and your lost some useful inventory. Maybe your rations have gone bad. Maybe you even injure yourself. Regardless of how it manifests, the status effect lasts until the rest of the day. Maybe you can turn to the network and see if others are experiencing the same or similar problems--or maybe someone has an idea on how to reverse it. Action Prompts THREE: MONSTER MASH You and your traveling companion have some quick thinking to do. Why? Because you were just chased not by one or even two anomalies, but by a whole hungry hoard. It's a miracle, you think, that the two of you were able to make it in unscathed...but it doesn't take long for you to realize that getting inside was hardly the difficult part. You've chosen an unfortunately big building to hide in, and between the two of you there aren't enough hands to hold down all the windows and block all the doors. What's worse: lockdown is still a few hours away. It looks like you have a few options: try and systematically block every exit point before the anomalies can make their way through them, make a break for a different building, or let them in and take shelter deeper in the house, in a room with a single door that will hopefully be able to hold until morning. There are, of course, ups and downs with each course of action. Can you get all the windows fast enough? Can you outrun all the anomalies from such a short distance? If the monsters are locked inside with you, is there a possibility that they'll still be there the next morning? Regardless, you have to think fast. You'll only have one shot at getting this right. FOUR: GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD When you first find this house, you think you and your traveling companion have hit the jackpot. The cabinets are bursting with food, the closets and cupboards bursting with useful supplies--even electronics! At least, that's how it seems. But then you look closer, and nothing's real. Everything's filled with neatly wrapped candies in plain black and orange paper. That backpack is made of tissue paper--that sleeping bag crumbles when touched, a very realistic dust sculpture. What's worse, only some of the candies prove to be candies. Others, neatly packaged teeth, eyeballs, spider carcasses... But are those even really there? You might step in one room and back out again to discover the whole place empty, your findings, horrible or otherwise, completely imagined.

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[ Things that can make creatures like us, speak to them.

Rocket scrunches his brows and his ears prick forward for the first time. No one's ever said creatures like us to him before. Part of him wants to lash out. To tell her that there ain't no thing like me 'cept me. But then, he's never met a talking cat before. She's got four legs, a tail, ears that move. Bluestar might actually be the closest creature's ever seen that actually resembles him.

But there's something else to pick apart, something he wants to know and that's much easier to ask about. ]

What do you mean? Without this, you can't talk?

[ And this time, there's no sneer or snide in his voice. He's just talking now. ]

I can speak to cats. But I've never been able to speak to another animal.

[Which makes it a little worrisome... what if she ends up speaking to a mouse? That might make her stomach flip.]

When I first got here, I couldn't speak to anyone. The glowbox makes it so Twolegs can understand me, and I can understand them. Even if... I don't understand a lot of what they say. Our worlds are very different.

[There's a sort of somberness in her tone, now that the indignant anger is leaving. Were she a younger cat, she's sure she'd be spitting fire like Rocket is... but at six years old she's graying at the muzzle, and she's just too tired to want to fight anyone for long. And after speaking to others on the 'glowbox', she's starting to mourn how much easier things would be if she could just tell Twolegs how much trouble they caused for her clan.]

[ It's okay. Rocket can teach you how to talk to your prey. ]

Is that right? [ Said under his breath, more instinct than anything else. But after his eyes dart back and forth a few times, Rocket settles his vision back on the screen, and sits down. ]

Then this glowbox might be the only reason you can understand me. [ It feels like some terrible thing to admit that he uses their language. And when the hell did this "us" and "them" concept start to creep in? ]

It seems so, yes. And... I don't think I could speak their language without the glowbox. Although... perhaps they could learn a bit of mine. You'd have an easier time, I think.

[At least, he has a tail and moving ears, essential parts of cat communication. The thought that she could go to someone for help if she somehow loses her tablet is also... rather comforting.]

We haven't properly introduced ourselves, have we. My name is Bluestar. I suppose I'm the... former leader of ThunderClan.

[Please, Redtail, please be taking care of the clan while she's gone.]

Trust me, their language ain't all that. [ But it's the only one he knows now. Whatever it was he used as language before, Rocket doesn't even know.

Also, hold up. Bluestar of the ThunderClan? This is Taserface all over again, and ho boy, does Rocket want to ask her a few things. In the end, he can't help himself, he hasn't to at least ask something, even if she's the closest thing to ... well, even the same species that Rocket's ever met. ]

Thunder. Clan. Why ... can you control thunder?

[ As for introducing himself, sure. Why not? Whenever it makes sense in the conversation, he'll do it: ] Name's Rocket.

[Her whiskers twitch with amusement at that. Controlling thunder, what a thought. Well, she guesses he needs a lesson in tribal cat religion.]

The four Clans were founded by four cats who traveled into the forest long ago, following the will of our great ancestors. Their names were Shadow, River, Wind and Thunder. Shadow took the most cunning cats to live in the brush of ShadowClan. River took the best swimmers to hunt fish in RiverClan. Wind took the fastest cats to live in the moors as WindClan. And Thunder took the best climbers to live in ThunderClan. [She's omitting a lot, but everyone always does with these folk legends.] I am the thirteenth leader of ThunderClan, though I suppose my deputy will be taking over for me now that I'm... here.

[She can't help feeling a little... empty, thinking about ThunderClan. Her entire life, since she first opened her eyes, has been devoted to keeping her Clanmates safe and doing what's best for the forest. Being alone, and worrying only about keeping herself alive, feels so very wrong.]

[ This isn't normal.

Normal would be him throwing all these weird nature-y names back at her. Normal would be him making jokes about how the great ancestors probably had no idea what they were doing, and just divvied up the world into territories so they'd never have to see each other's ugly mugs again.

Except. Well. It's a weird, uncomfortable feeling, but he doesn't want to make fun of her. At least not yet, and as Rocket's eyes watches her whiskers, the way she talks, the way her nose moves like his own ... it all feels different somehow, than when he's talking with a human. It all feels ... a lot more like he's talking to Groot. ]

Just so I understand this. Exactly how good of a climber are you? Can you get to the roof of one of these buildings?

[Little does he know the clans were pretty much made so that none of the cats would have to see each other... but that's a story for another day.

Her ears twitch a bit as she considers this, and then her nose wrinkles.]

I hadn't thought of that. I can climb that high on a tree, but I'm not sure a ne- building... would have the same sorts of footholds. Even if I can, the climb would be steep and the cold wind would be a problem. I wouldn't want to try it unless there was a good reason.

[But it would be a good way to get away from monsters, now that she's thinking about it. Maybe a one-story roof would be a good way to test it.]

You'd be surprised lady.

[ Rocket seems to glance at something off screen, his own nose twitching a bit as if he's smelling for something. But his attention comes back right after. ]

Broken down buildings usually have the most holes. [ A pause, as he studies her a little longer. ] I hear being stuck in prison is a good reason. For you know, trying to get out.

[ Because yes, this isn't the first time he's talked about this place that way. Not that he minds, perse, but they're definitely in prison. ]

Prison?

[She flicks an ear, as she thinks on what he's saying for a moment.]

Whatever a prison is, we don't have them in the forest. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

[Rocket seems like a good resource for new vocabulary, though. She's starting to think he knows a lot about the 'human' world, and they could learn a lot from each other.]

[ Oh my god, he thinks. There is no frickin' way she doesn't know what a prison is. He used to be a- nevermind.

The surprise — even shock — is apparent though as Rocket's paws are suddenly holding the tablet a full small armslength away as he side eyes her. His own ears are up and alert until they relax once more. ]

You're kidding me.

You know, prison. It's like a place you put people when other people in the society don't like them and they can't ever get out.

[ Yes mhm. Very accurate description of prisons Rocket. Clearly it has nothing to do with committing crimes. ]

That sounds horrible... what's the point of locking them up without giving them a chance to redeem themselves?

[Of course, there are a few cats she thinks would never redeem themselves even in a situation like that... but they were always given every chance the clans could afford them. It's the only way to live freely.]

The warrior code forbids needless cruelty. We never draw blood unless we need to, and we absolutely don't trap other cats just because we don't like them. There's no need for anything like that.

[Not only that, she can tell how much the thought of it affects him... her fur is ruffled by a sudden urge to fix this somehow.]

Don't ask me. [ He says, as he shrugs with both his shoulders and his face. He's never quite understood how other people see property, or crime. If things were up to him ... the world would probably be a more chaotic place. ]

Warrior code huh? [ He glances down for a second, but smiling a little and shaking his head. ] Yeah humans don't got that. At least, most of 'em don't. [ Just Quill. ]

[ He doesn't mention that he likes to do things other people would consider as needless cruelty, like steal someone's prosthetic eye just to see them look for it the next morning. But to Rocket ... those things are just ... funny, like practical jokes. He certainly never kills people for no reason. ]

And you? Do you follow a code?

[She's figured that Twolegs don't, but Rocket isn't a Twoleg. He's the closest thing to a cat that she's met so far, in fact.

Her clanmates would look down on her for wanting to offer to teach him the ways of a warrior, but still... the urge is there to bring him into her culture and see if it helps him.]

[ He isn't expecting that question and Rocket's eyes look back at her through the screen, eyebrows narrowing ever-so-slightly as he tries to work out what her goals are. Except, unlike with humans, he isn't inclined to imagine the worst. ]

You could say that. [ A beat, as he weighs whether to give her any more than the vague answer that comes most naturally. ] It's got no fancy name though. I protect whoever protects me. [ Not I care about whoever cares about me, because Rocket is never going to admit those kind of feelings. Protect on the other hand, still lets him sound tough. ]

[That makes a smile show in her eyes, and her whiskers twitch with a bit of humor.]

My code is similar. We protect those who can't protect themselves, even if that's simply a warrior who needs a helping paw in that moment. We believe in feeding those who can't hunt for themselves, and in doing everything we can to ensure the well-being of the clan as a whole. Our ultimate goal is peace and prosperity, without the interference of Twolegs.

[She pauses for effect, before adding:]

I think you might handle living by my clan's laws well, if you wanted to learn them.

[This is partly a selfish offer. She wants to have others to protect again. She wants to feel needed, and she wants to collect as many creatures like herself as she can and keep them close. But she really does think this could be a tempting offer for him, and she intends to make it the best experience she can manage.]

[ What she's offering isn't entirely out of the question. If you replace the words 'clan' with 'family,' Rocket knows exactly who all of this would apply to in his life.

But generically?

Some of it, he can get behind. Like animals living in peace without humans or whatever else sticking their noses where they don't belong. Feeding animals who can't hunt themselves? Maybe. But protecting those who can't protect themselves?

It makes Rocket think of how small and vulnerable Groot can be at times in his tiny form, even if he isn't entirely defenseless. But at the same time, Rocket ... he's your typical good samaritan. A guardian of the galaxy? Hell yes. But doing things that feel too goody-goody makes his fur ruffle in a wave. ]

Thanks, but no thanks sweetheart. [ He says, like it's no big deal. Like he wants to be alone, even though the way he's felt for the past two years with the guardians have been the best time in his life. ] You're lookin' for a hero, and I sure ain't one of those.

[Hero? That almost makes her laugh. She's known a lot of warriors who followed the code perfectly, and were never what she would call heroes. The code had enough leeway that even Thistleclaw, who trained his apprentice to attack defenseless kittens for crossing borders without knowing better, was still considered good to his clan.]

I don't expect a hero. And you don't have to accept. I thought it might be nice for you to feel a sense of community... [Her eyes soften with a deep sort of sadness that she's been trying her best not to show.] ...But since my clan is still back in the forest, it would really just be an alliance between the two of us. No need to worry about anyone else, unless you wanted to.

[The more she talks about this, the sillier it feels. Is she building her own clan just to replace ThunderClan?]

[ A whole clan of heroes is what Rocket has pictured in his mind, so his eyes lift when Bluestar says that's not what she's looking for. But it's clear as the stars to Rocket that she's looking for good people — and he doesn't count himself as one of those either.

Though maybe one day he'll hear about Thistleclaw and laugh because he can relate. ]

I don't need a community. [ A lie that is at the very base of Rocket's defense mechanisms. But truth be told, Rocket's not sure he's ever been a part of any community beyond his team. ] I've gotten along without them just fine thanks. [ He pauses though, as he turns his head, when she shifts the perspective. An alliance between just the two of them. In a way, that's how Groot and Peter have won him over. One by one.

Hmm. ]

An alliance between the two of us. [ He repeats, mulling it over out loud. God, if she was any of the two-legged species out there, he could already hear his answer: Don't flatter yourself. But she isn't. ] Fine. [ And then he adds: ] Until we get outta here. [ As if a time limitation would matter. As if by then, he wouldn't already risk his life for her. ]

[A purr echoes out of her throat, and she tries her best not to look too excited. Just a dignified nod. He definitely seems like the hardy type, someone who doesn't like to admit he needs others. It's sort of charming, in an odd way. She sees a potential for what Tigerclaw could have become, if she'd managed to help him in time.]

I'll have to think for a while about how to adjust the warrior code so that it means anything in this new world. Many of the rules only apply to a full Clan with a proper territory and other Clans to worry about. But I'm sure StarClan would appreciate your open mind.

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Test Drive

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bluestar, stop being so good to him

she must protect her new striped angry son

angry teens gotta rebel

too bad she's not done momming yet

he really needs a mom

bluestar is his mother now, no objections.